drawDB vs SchemaSpy

drawDB is a browser-based database diagram editor for modeling schemas, importing existing definitions and exporting SQL. It supports Generic, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MariaDB, Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle diagrams. Imports include drawDB JSON and DDB files, DBML, and SQL scripts for the listed database systems; exports include SQL, image and document formats, drawDB JSON, DBML, Mermaid and Markdown. The free plan is listed at free and includes local diagrams, SQL dialects, and import and export. In the open-source editor, diagrams and custom templates live in browser IndexedDB, tying them to that browser profile. The maker says it can also be self-hosted with Docker. Pro options add cloud storage and sync, public sharing, AI assistance and version history; team options include workspaces, roles, diagram permissions and live collaboration. The AI assistant can create or edit schema elements from prompts, while the MCP server provides read-only access for compatible coding tools to schemas in Pro cloud workspaces. Schema context is sent to the AI service when it operates on a diagram.

SchemaSpy is a free, open-source command-line application that reads database metadata and creates shareable HTML documentation. It generates entity-relationship diagrams from an existing database, collects structural statistics, and can export those statistics to Excel or CSV. Reports can identify design anomalies such as missing indexes, implied relationships, and orphan tables. The project says it supports over a dozen databases directly and can work with others through JDBC drivers. Documentation generation can be placed in a CI/CD workflow, and SchemaSpy can run against an empty database replica because it reads structural information. There is no graphical interface: distribution is through a JAR file or Docker image. Installation requires Java, a database JDBC driver, and viz.js or Graphviz for relationship diagrams. The JAR excludes drivers, while the Docker image includes drivers for MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and jTDS for MSSQL. The listed plan price is free.